We’ve seen a large amount of turnover on NHL rosters over the last few months, with the trade deadline, entry draft and plenty of action in free agency. Now as we get closer to training camp every team in the NHL has its sights set on the playoffs and a chance at the Stanley Cup. Even those who finished outside the postseason picture last season are aiming for a different result in 2018-19, and everyone who did get into the tournament is just hoping to hold on.
Last summer we asked which non-playoff team from 2016-17 would make it in 2017-18 and the results were clear. The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning were the easy favorites, earning more than 18% of the vote each. Unfortunately for Dallas that prediction didn’t come true, as the team missed the postseason for second consecutive year. Not so for the Lightning though, who bounced back from an injury plagued year to once again be a force in the Eastern Conference.
Interestingly the Colorado Avalanche came in last with just 11 votes (0.73%) after posting a historically bad 2016-17 season, and yet the team bounced back and just made the playoffs in the Western Conference. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen were a huge part of that, but a solid performance by the entire roster should be credited for them finding their footing again last season. Can the Buffalo Sabres do a similar basement-to-playoffs run in 2018-19 with their young core of Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt?
Cast your vote below on who you think will make the playoffs in 2018-19 and make sure to explain your choice in the comment section below. Even leave your thoughts on who will fail to reach the postseason next year.
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Easy pick. St Louis
I’m used to live in the big STL, so picking the Blues was an easy pick.
Anyone who didn’t pick the blues is on drugs, hardcore drugs if you said buffalo
Blues are definitely the easiest pick, though I am a bit surprised Florida and Dallas aren’t behind them. They’d be my #2 and #3 options.